Automobile bttktpeb



Feb. 19, 1929.

G. VENTURA AUTOMOBILE BUMPER INVENTOR ATTORNEY Patented heb, 19, i929.

PATENT OFFICE.

GIACOMO VENTURA, OF LOS ANGELES CALIFORNIA.

AUTOMOBLE BUMPER.

Application filed September 20, 1928. Serial No. 307,178.

The invention generally relates to shock absorbing devices, principallyto that type of such devices known as automobile bumpers, and the saidinvention primarily has for its object to provide an improved bumper inwhich a combination of spring and hydraulic shock butler structure isemployed.

ln its more detailed nature the invention resides in the provision oi"an improved bumper comprising a bumper body and mounting members adaptedto telescope upon impact ot' the bumper body with a resistingobstruction, said telescoping members having therein initial shockabsorbing springs and other combined spring and hydraulic heavy shockabsorbing devices.

Other objects will in part be obvious and in kpart be pointed outhereinafter.

To the attainment ot' the aforesaid objects and ends, the inventionfurther resides in the novel details of construction, combina* tion andarrangement of parts, all ot' which will be first fully described in thefollowing description, then be particularly pointed out in the appendedclaims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in whichFigure 1 is an inverted plan view of the invention.

Figure 2 a cross section of a bumper constructed in accordance 'with theinvention and mounted for use, one of the telescopic mounting membersbeing shown in longitudinal section.

Figures 3, 4t and 5 are cross sections taken on the lines 3 3, #1 /1-and on Figure 2.

Figures 6, 7 and S are diagrammatic sections illustrating` threedill'erent shock absorbing conditions.

ln the drawings, iu which like numerals of reference indicate lilieparts in all of the ligures, l designates the bumper which ma v bedesigned in any suitable manner and may comprise a single or a numberot' cross 45 leaves seemed together in any manner desi red. Sluit-ablyspaced tubes or rods 2 are secured to the bumper at 3 and the saidmembers 2 telescope into tubular members Ll and are slot and pinconnected thereto as 50 at 5 to limit the telescopic movement of theparts.

ln each member d a piston or plunger' 6 is slidably mounted, saidpistons each including a packing washer 7 of leather, or other suitablematerial, to cause the said pistons to engage the t-ubular memberHuidtight.

A light coil spring S is mounted in each member el between the pistonand the opposed end ol the member 2 and a similar but heavier spring 9is interposed between the other tace ot the piston and an abutment wall'l0 tixedly mounted in the member il and provided with a bleed opening1l, the purpose ior which will later be described.

The end of the member et opposite that which receives the member 2'isbent upwardly and `back upon itself as at 1Q and at the uppermost pointthereof is provided with an air port 13.

That portion of each member 4t beyond the piston (3 7 and at each sideof the wall l() constitutes a 'fluid chamber.

In each fluid chamber 'formed as above described is provided a quantityof glycerine, or other fluid, of suitable consistency, indicated at 14.

In operation the port 13 serves to provide for the necessary ingress andegress ot air into and out o't the fluid chamber, and to overcome anytendency of the fluid 14 to pass out through the air port 13, I providea tloat valve 15 which will normally hang suspended, as shown in Figures2 and 5 of the drawings, but when engaged by the fluid 14 will close theair port.

In operation, when the bumper 1 is engaged by au obstruct-ion, the lirstshock will be taken up by movement of the members 2 aud compression olthe light coil springs S, and it the impact is moderate the compressionot the said springs S will be Sullicient to wholly absorb it.

Heavier shocks, however, will cause movement ot the pistons (3 7 and notonly the compression of the heavy springs 9 but the forcing of a portionof the glycerine from the chambers in advance or the abutment Halls 10through the small ports or orices in the said walls and up into theupwardly extended chambers beyond, serving to etlindjueeut eud of themeiuber iu which it, is mounted to `form :i liquid chamber at eitherside ot Suid Well, a, light Coil spring enga@ ing the piston and theother ot the telescopio members, another und heavier coil springinterposed between the piston mid the partition Wall, the said partitionwall czurriug member having' the end thereof heut upmirdly beyond thesaid partition will, aud means iu the upwardly bent portiou of saidmember to permitingress and egress ot' nir without permitting escape ofliquid.

GIACOMO VENTURA.

